Dear Damona: Great Expectations & The Talk

Fan favorite, Jennifer Cook, bestselling author, and autism advocate shares her experience as the on-camera expert from the hit Netflix series Love on the Spectrum. In this conversation, Jennifer also opens up about her late-in-life autism diagnosis, the challenges of dating with a neurodivergent brain, and the surprising tools that can help anyone date with more clarity and compassion. What you’ll learn: How neurodiverse and neurotypical daters alike can build intentional communication Practical tools for managing sensory overwhelm on a date The subtle power of “tell me more” Why preparation and presence are the keys to connection This is the first episode of our Rewind Series, where we revisit some of the most powerful and timeless conversations from the Dates & Mates archives.  Subscribe to get every rewind episode and our Spring special bonus episodes the minute they are available. Catch Jennifer in the latest season of Love on the Spectrum (streaming now on Netflix) Follow her @JenniferCook_Author More at: JenniferCookAuthor.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Master Class episode, Damona explains the effect that text-based communication has had on dating today. But rather than thinking of it as us losing the art of communication, she proposes that we consider it as gaining another language and expanding our skills. Prepare to develop a communication code of conduct that will hopefully lead you to a deeper, more meaningful connection! Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura Day, New York Times bestselling author, shares the insights within her upcoming book, “The Prism: Seven Steps to Heal Your Past and Transform Your Future”. Her transformational tools will put you back in the driver's seat of your life and lead you to healthier relationships with others and yourself. Our Dear Damona question of the week: Where do you draw the line between being too picky and settling? Pre-order your copy of Laura’s book,“The Prism: Seven Steps to Heal Your Past and Transform Your Future”, set to be released April 29th, by visiting lauraday.com/shop/ Follow Laura on Instagram @LauraDayIntuit  Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Damona shares a rare peek behind the curtain of one of her private coaching sessions, with the client’s permission of course! Hear firsthand how she teaches her clients to use their own intuition in dating and beyond. Plus you’ll get to see exactly how Damona uses her own intuition while coaching singles in love from how to tune in, what to look and listen for, and exercises to get started yourself. Whether you’ve been ignoring your gut or just want to sharpen your instincts, this episode is going to help you reconnect with one of your most powerful dating tools—you. Interested in booking your own solo coaching session? Email [email protected] or DM @damonahoffman on Instagram or Facebook! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francesca Hogi, TED speaker and host of the Dear Franny podcast, introduces her new book, “How To Find True Love: Unlock Your Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships.” Plus, she will break down her new definition of true love, dive deeper into the Fairy Tale Industrial Complex, explore her meet-cute mindset and so much more! Our Dear Damona question of the week: Dating apps keep feeding me the same old matches, so how do I meet someone IRL? Grab your copy of Francesca’s book, “How to Find True Love: Unlock Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships”, by visiting FrancescaHogi.com/Book Follow Francesca on Instagram @DearFranny  Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharing a new show from our friends at Higher Ground, hosted by Michelle Obama, called IMO. On IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. And a lot of their questions are about dating and relationships. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you. In this episode, renowned life coach and podcaster Jay Shetty joins Michelle and Craig to puzzle through a listener's question about professional ambition and dating. The trio discuss money in relationships, finding balance between work and romance, and Michelle shares her advice for choosing a life partner. They ask: Is the pursuit of perfection—in work or dating—worth it? You can hear more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigDM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of their 18th wedding anniversary, Damona’s partner-in-life-and-love, Seth Hoffman, is joining her on the mic to do something they’ve never done before—answer your burning dating and relationship questions together! From first dates to commitment, conflict to chemistry, they’re bringing  you the raw, unfiltered truth straight from the front lines of a long-term partnership with questions like: How heavy should outside opinions weigh on my relationship decisions? How do I get over my freeze response when attending singles events? What do I do when it feels like my partner isn’t listening anymore? How can I encourage a more positive mindset about dating in my friend group? I lost my spouse years ago and sometimes miss the companionship. How can I open up my heart to love? Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's Home Trends expert, examines whether shacking up with a partner actually saves you money—or if the emotional costs outweigh the benefits. Plus, we’ll explore how to decide when—or if—it’s the right time to merge your spaces and your finances. And later we answer this Dear Damona question of the week: How can you set up a new long-distance relationship for success? VisitZillow.com for all of your home buying needs.  Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program The Dating Accelerator, for $50 off this month ONLY:  DamonaHoffman.com/program Use the code: MARCH50 Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beatriz Victoria Albina, Master Certified Somatic Life Coach, breaks down the ways a dysregulated nervous system might be getting in your way romantically, how to tune into the cues your body is sending you and how to heal ourselves for happier, healthier relationships. Then the Dear Damona question this week is: 15 years later, I find myself back in the dating pool. Where do I begin? Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program The Dating Accelerator, for $50 off this month ONLY:  DamonaHoffman.com/program Use the code: MARCH50 Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mercury may be retrograde but we are moving forward on a new path to love with an All-Dear-Damona episode. This week’s questions came in from all over the globe: I’ve been told that men should do the chasing. Do I really have to sit around and wait? How do I keep my cool when matches ask questions that I’ve already answered in my dating profile? I’ve done a lot of inner work. How much can I reasonably expect a male match to have done? A famous singer-songwriter reached out to me on Instagram. How do I know if it’s the real deal? Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program The Dating Accelerator, for $50 off this month ONLY:  DamonaHoffman.com/program Use the code: MARCH50 Submit your questions for Dear Damona on any of the socials @DamonaHoffman or by visiting DamonaHoffman.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices